Ancient Ayurveda: Using the Natural Rhythms of Life for Better Health

Sometimes ancient wisdom is the best. Modern scientific discoveries are showing the efficacy, and explaining the reasons why, some old Ayurvedic practices work. And, with more and more people becoming interested in health and longevity, organic eating, and living a simple lifestyle, it’s no wonder people are rediscovering this ancient medical practice to get back in-tune with their body’s natural rhythms.

The Three Forces Of Life

In ancient Ayurvedic medicine, there were three fundamental energies that governed the human body. First, there was movement. Next, transformation, and finally structure. These were known as “Vata” (wind), “Pitta” (fire), and “Kapha” (earth). These forces are said to be in and out of balance depending on a variety of factors.

For example, if you are predominately filled with “Vata,” or wind, then you’ll be thin, light, enthusiastic, energetic, and changeable. But, being imbalanced means that there is too much movement and you tend to experience anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation and difficulty focusing.

If you’re predominantly filled with “Pitta,” or fire, then you’re intense, intelligent, and goal-oriented. You have a strong appetite for life. But, when you’re out of balance, you tend to be compulsive, irritable, and suffer from indigestion or an inflammatory condition.

If you’re predominately “Kapha,” or earth, you’ll be easy-going, methodical, and nurturing. But, out of balance, and you’ll become sluggish, overweight, and have sinus congestion.

Solving each problem depends on what force dominates you, and involves the use of dietary changes as well as herbal remedies. And, science has confirmed that some people can be allergic to certain foods, that anxiety is a serious condition, and that disruption of gut ecology causes digestive upset. Of course, there’s more to it than just popping a few pills and making simple diet changes.

You might need medical intervention if the condition is serious. But, many people can benefit from modern food intolerance testing like the LEAP MRT or the ALCAT, micronutrient testing, gut pathogen screening, and environmental toxins screening.

When You Eat Matters

Modern science is confirming that a Millenia-old practice of eating within a defined time-period during the day helps control inflammatory processes, restores beneficial and restorative pathways, and may help people lose weight and feel better. The old Ayurvedic practice of eating big meals in the afternoon isn’t just mythology.

A study done by the Salk Institute shows that mice fed during an 8-hour feeding window showed markedly improved blood markers for disease. In other words, the mice bodies turned back on normal and protective metabolic pathways once the little critters stopped eating.

Compared to mice who ate over a period of 9 to 12 hours, or more, the 8-hour feeding window allowed test mice to maintain a stable body weight, and even lose weight.

And, while this doesn’t prove that human beings should eat their largest meal of the day between noon and 2PM, it does suggest that shorter feeding times might improve weight loss outcomes for those trying to lose weight – something that would be consistent with Ayurvedic medicine’s practice of eating a large meal during the midday and not eating past sunset.

Eating Healthier

Reducing the total number of calories can also help. It’s been long-observed that increasing calories, and decreasing energy expenditure, results in weight gain. But, reducing calorie intake could help. How can you do this? Best Days lists some great diabetic recipes to get you started.

These low-calorie meals replace sugar with sugar substitutes, beef up the protein in a meal for more satiety and control calories by manipulating macronutrients in an intelligent manner.

Robert Mason is always on the lookout for better ways to live. A father of five, he hopes to help others live longer, by posting his discoveries on the web. You can find his enlightening and interesting posts on many of today’s top websites.